Whats New

Important: The vSphere API Reference includes detailed lists of new managed object types, data object types and properties, enumerations, and fault type. The Reference also includes an API Versions Reference page, which lists which version each object, fault, and enumeration supports.

New Features

In addition to the features listed in What's New in VMware vSphere 4.0, the vSphere Web Services SDK includes some new features that are of interest to developers.

Client credential store to support automated logon. The client credential store consists of convenience libraries (Java, C# interfaces) for saving and retrieving authentication credentials in a local store on the client. Currently, supported credentials are limited to passwords only. The credential store facilitates running automated scripts. The SDK also includes command-line tools (Java, Microsoft PowerShell) for creating and managing a credential store on client machines. See the vSphere Web Services SDK Programming Guide for more information.

New SMS SDK for the Experimental Storage Monitoring Service API. The Storage Monitoring Service (SMS) is installed by default on vCenter Server 4.0 systems. This service provides an experimental Web-services-based API that allows centralized access to all storage information across the datacenter. The SMS API provides a detail without the complexity of using the more general-purpose vSphere API. The SMS SDK is located in the \sms directory of the VMware vSphere Web Services SDK package. Open the SMS-SDK-README.html file in a Web browser to get started.

WSDLs for Multiple API Versions. vSphere API 4.0 and VI API 2.0. The vSphere API 4.0 subsumes previous API versions, starting with VI API 2.5. The SDK package includes two versions of the WSDL files, located in these subdirectories:

The sdk\wsdl\vim subdirectory contains WSDL files for use with ESX Server 3.0.1 and VirtualCenter 2.0

Sample Code Enhancements

The SDK includes new C# and Java samples that demonstrate using new features. In addition, the sample helper classes use many of the new features and capabilities, such as the client-side credential store, targeting multiple servers that might be running different API versions, and saving session tokens (cookies) for reuse.

The \SDK\samples\Axis\java\com\vmware\security directory includes the credential store examples.

Documentation Improvements

vSphere API Reference The main page of the vSphere API Reference includes comprehensive listings of the API versions and of new managed object types and new data object types. The documentation for many managed object types has been improved and clarified. For example, see the revised PerformanceManager and ViewManager documentation in the vSphere API Reference. The vSphere API Reference includes version information. New features available with ESX 4.0, ESXi 4.0, and vCenter Server 4.0 are labeled Since vSphere API 4.0.

vSphere Web Services SDK Programming Guide The vSphere Web Services SDK Programming Guide has been reorganized and revised. It now includes UML diagrams and screenshots of the MOB (Managed Object Browser) to provide context and several instance diagrams that illustrate the inventory. The guide uses code examples from the SDK package.